Did a search, not finding much....

I added an inline fuse to my auxillary water pump, after testing the amperage (approx .75 to .8) and operation of the pump by jumping it to the battery. Thanks to all who have posted write-ups and suggestions for doing this to protect the CCU.

Problem is:

While working on exposing the wiring to the pump, I noticed an old, dried up piece of electrical tape barely holding onto a cable running up the passenger side wheel well. I pulled the tape off and I find a bare and corroded wire - it appears that it leads to the back of my alternator! I assume this isn't a good thing - although haven't experienced any charging problems.

Question is:

What do I do? Leave it and wait for a failure? Run a new wire (where does it terminate, it appears the 'cable' runs behind the battery)? What size wire runs from the alternator (65a)?

Has anyone upgraded or at least re-wired this segment of their vehicle's electrical system?

Any suggestions appreciated

__________________
83 300d - 390k

What d'ye mean "appears to go to the alternator?"

There's just 3 wires that go to the alt (at least on my '83 240D). Two chunky red/pink wires that lead fron the alt to the starter motor and meet the battery hot wire there. And then one scrawney blue wire that goes god knows where (possibly to the batt light on the dash?).

Is this a skinny scraggly little wire you're talkin about? And can you possibly identify its original color code further down the line?

Here's a pic of the damaged portion of the wire.

__________________
83 300d - 390k

Another picture showing (kind of) the general location of the wire. You're looking at the auxillary water pump and the wire running up toward the coolant overflow tank. It appears to connect, at one end, to the voltage regulator on the back of the alternator.

The other end seems to go under the battery toward the firewall.

Any help?

Color - looks like the same as the car - beige. Same color as the wires at the wire harness/connector on the top of the passenger front wheel well.

__________________
83 300d - 390k